So far this year the most interesting storyline has emerged from what should be the most mundane of routine legislative business. Adjustments to the current budget year often address unanticipated caseload, and authorizing spending increases from available cash fund balances is usually an easy decision. But when the subject is concealed weapons permits or driver’s licenses for people without permanent lawful presence, all bets are off. There have been sharp rebukes for prematurely deploying the nukes, giving us hope we can avoid mutually assured destruction.

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Chief Justice Nancy E. Rice, State of the Judiciary address

By far the most engaging speech of the opening of the new session, this biennial address revealed the new chief justice’s character and charm. She spoke from her heart and from her experience, and with candor and colorful language she imparted a sense of urgency around the needs of the Judicial Branch and access to justice for all Coloradans. And that courthouse in Walsenberg — that’s crazy!

New Colorado State Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, presides over the Senate during the opening session of the 2015 Colorado Legislature. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Colorado lawmakers submitted their financial disclosure forms Friday, but just how much they must disclose is generating confusion.

One question, in particular, is open to interpretation. It is found on the third page of the required Personal Financial Disclosure Statement that lawmakers filed. It asks them to “list all offices, directorships and fiduciary relationships held by you, your spouse, or minor children residing with you.”

How does this work? Take, for example, new Senate President Bill Cadman’s form.

Each year Alan Franklin, the personable political director of the leading liberal group ProgressNow Colorado, keeps Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler in his thoughts during the holidays. In each of the last three years, he’s penned his special wishes on a card he sends to Gessler, a former private practice lawyer who usually represented Republican interests. Gessler ran for governor this year instead of re-election, and in January he will back in the private sector.

So Franklin signed his Christmas card citing Gessler’s nickname: “Buh-Bye, Honey Badger!” Then he extended the courtesy to Gessler’s deputy secretary of state, Suzanne Staiert, as well.

Last year Gessler was planning to run for governor, but in June he finished third in the GOP primary. Franklin wrote, “Sending next year’s card to the Governor’s Mansion.” Ah, that’s nice. But wait for it. “Hopefully they’ll forward it to you.” Zing.

Democrat Bernie Buescher and Gov. Bill Ritter after the governor, right, in December 2008 appointed the former state lawmaker to serve as secretary of state. The post became open when Republican Mike Coffman resigned the office after winning a seat in Congress. (The Denver Post)

Democrat Bernie Buescher, the king of irony when it comes to his job with the Republican attorney general’s office, is leaving state government next month but the Grand Junction native made it clear he’s not retiring.

“I’ve tried that a couple of times and failed pretty miserably,” he said. “I suspect I’ll be working somewhere, doing something. I may not be full time.”

Buescher has a long history with the state, most recently as deputy attorney general for state services. As part of his job, Buescher oversees the attorneys who represent Secretary of State Scott Gessler, the Republican who beat Buescher in 2010.

Gov. John Hickenlooper addresses the Colorado Democratic Party’s State Assembly in Denver on April 12. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)

Gov. John Hickenlooper’s campaign reported today it raised more than $172,000 during the most recent reporting period, so far raising more than $3 million for his re-election bid.

He reported he has $579,268 cash on hand after reserving $1.38 million for a campaign ad buy this fall.

“John wants to keep our economic momentum going and continue developing state-of-the-art emergency response in Colorado,” campaign manager Bradley Komar said. “He’s on the Western Slope right now meeting with business, industry, and civic leaders, with National Guard members at the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, and with rural Coloradans discussing the safety and economic security of our State. This is John’s focus.”

Hickenlooper, a Democrat, faces Republican Bob Beauprez, who one week ago won the Republican nomination after defeating three GOP rivals in the primary.

Joe Neguse announced Tuesday he has beaten Scott Gessler. Granted, Gessler was the Republican who won the secretary of state’s race in 2010, and Neguse is facing a different Republican, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Wayne Williams, in the fall.

Neguse issued a press release touting the fact he’s raised $294,117 so far, including $33,261 in the final two weeks before the primary. Four years ago, Gessler raised $280,772. (The incumbent in 2010, Bernie Buescher, raised $353,329.)

Williams reported $88,046 in the last campaign finance report two weeks ago. He had $48,905 cash on hand.

Last Tuesday’s primary election did little to settle the score. According to statistics compiled by Colorado’s Secretary of State, fewer than 900 voters — 871 to be exact — registered and voted on the same day in the lead-up to the polls closing the night of June 24. Of those, only 68 voters did so on Election Day itself.

“It’s relatively insignificant,” said Secretary of State Scott Gessler, a longtime opponent of same-day voting, of the primary results.

All told, the 871 same-day voters represented little more than a rounding error of the estimated 641,000 voters who turned out for the primary. That’s not a huge surprise as primaries generally are low-turnout (and often low-stakes) affairs.

But Gessler said he expects the figure to increase dramatically this fall with two big races: Mark Udall v. Cory Gardner for the Senate and Mike Coffman v. Andrew Romanoff for a seat in the U.S. House.

“I think you will see both parties and other partisan groups [working] to register people and get them to vote,” Gessler said.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez celebrates after winning the GOP primary at an election party in Denver on June 24. His wife Claudia is at left. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

A true winner in politics is the gracious loser and the three Republicans who didn’t reach their goals in the gubernatorial primary were just that, immediately promising to back Bob Beauprez in November.

Beauprez received 30 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, besting fellow former congressman Tom Tancredo, with 27 percent; Secretary of State Gessler, 23 percent; and former Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp, 20 percent. (For a fascinating look at which candidate carried which counties, check out The Denver Post’s map of the election results.)

Beauprez will try to unseat Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, a tall task considering Colorado: 1) hasn’t kicked an elected governor out of office since 1962 (Democrat Steve McNichols) and 2) since 1974 has supported the GOP nominee only twice, in 1998 and 2002 (Bill Owens).

Here are the messages the three GOP candidates sent to their supporters:

Colorado Republicans are choosing among four candidates for a nominee to challenge Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper in November.

The polls for the primary close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Running for the GOP nomination for governor are former congressmen Bob Beauprez and Tom Tancredo, Secretary of State Scott Gessler and former Senate minority leader Mike Kopp. Here are their profiles which were previously published in The Denver Post:

Tom Tancredo: The immigration firebrand and unconventional candidate tries again for governor. Story and videos, including his belief that he’ll get just an many — if not more — Latino votes than his GOP counterparts and why he voted for a banking bailout.

Mike Kopp: The former state Senate minority leaders pray for another upset. Story and videos, including his take on his fundraising numbers and concerns over the legalization of marijuana.

Scott Gessler: The honey badger has walked on the wild side of partisan politics. Story and videos, including what he sees as his achievements in office and why he believes the state ethics commission is corrupt.

Bob Beauprez: His vision of the future includes putting the past behind him. Story and videos, including a discussion of his faith and the death penalty, and standing at the rear end of a horse in 2006.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.